cassiagallo

[cassiagallo]

Cassia was impressed that she'd done such a drastic change so young. Not that she knew if she was younger than her or not, but she did look a little younger. School had been a perfect opportunity for her to venture elsewhere and dip her toes in the world that extended beyond Briar Ridge, but she didn't know that she would have been as courageous to leave on her own without some kind of safety net.

The idea of having to find an house, job, and completely uproot her life was frightening. At least at school she had a dorm, a job in the form of being a TA, and build in friends around campus.

"It's always funny when I find out that people come here. I can't imagine it being the first place on a list but maybe there is more charm to this little town than I realize." She was still here so she must have liked some aspects of it. "Let's go with light. I can always order something else if I'm still hungry."

Reina laughed at her jumbled sentence, making sense of it rather quickly as she nodded her head. "Yes, since forever." she waited, listening to her explain her side of things before she had the opportunity to chime in. "I've heard that origin story a lot actually," she smiled, thinking of how many people she had run into here that had told a tale of leaving this place, going off and finding something different for themselves and then trekking back to Briar Ridge anyways. It made her wonder what really was in the water here for everyone to come back.

"I decided I just wanted a change in pace," she started, sliding her water that had been shoved off to a far corner of the booth, around her food, and taking a nice, long sip from it. "I'm from Chicago, grew up there, was a part of a high-end firm there, and just put my finger on a map...researched a little, and found this place and decided to call it home." she smiled, thinking over her decision now seeing as she had been here for just about a year now.

She looked over the item she picked and gave her a thumbs up. "Great choice," she nodded along before flipping the menu back over and looking at the options listed for sides. "It depends on how hungry you are, actually," she looked back to her. "You want something light or a little heavier? The edamame is great."

[cassiagallo]

The air between them shifted almost immediately, and despite the years apart, Cassia could still read him like a book. The way he looked at her, the stiffness of his body, and the quick comment was a dead giveaway. While her first instinct was to be confused, she still remembered the outburst the week before while decorating the easter eggs, when she'd purposefully made him jealous. Even though she'd appreciated his frustration the week before, she didn't expect that it would be enough for him to completely ignore her for a week.

"What?" She asked incredulously, her laughter a little drier despite the humor that still clung to it. He did have a point given the hours she worked and the fact that she was often home for a few hours at a time, but she didn't appreciate being told so bluntly.

"You don't know that I would kill it. But you also can't tell me what I can or can't do." Cassia argued as she followed behind him.

She felt like a small child following their parent but she wasn't going to allow him to just walk away and avoid her altogether. "Why are you angry with me? It's been a week! Can you stop and talk to me?" Her frustration grew, keeping close behind him.

"Seb, come on. Babe, Stop." Her fingers rose to reach for his forearm in an attempt to stop him when they entered the narrower space, practically forcing herself in his path.

A stubborn streak wasn't unknown for the petite brunette and she was adamant on getting some answers. But more importantly, she simply craved his attention and refused to leave without getting her feed. It had been a week and the thought of him placing his attention elsewhere had driven her to the brink of insanity. "Can we just forget everything that happened and just be us for right now. Didn't you miss me?" Her voice fell, eyes widened as she regarded him in the way she had before all of this happened. Whenever they disagreed or fought, the look often softened the tension between them. "I missed you."

The sun blazed overhead, illuminating the slightly dusty interior of Happy Tails, where foot traffic had dwindled to a trickle. Sebastian found himself in the midst of the store’s chaotic disarray, contemplating various ways to reorganize the cluttered shelves and display areas. After enduring hours of solitude, the sound of the bell above the door chimed as a customer finally stepped inside. Although Sebastian typically found solace in the quiet charm of his store, he felt an overwhelming restlessness. His mind was a tangled web of thoughts, especially since he hadn’t been able to shake off the memory of Cassia.

Her face haunted him, the way her eyes locked with his for that brief moment, only to be followed by her hand reaching out to touch someone else. It gnawed at him, driving him to distraction and leaving him incapable of focusing on anything beyond his swirling emotions. Desperate to lose himself in the rhythm of his work, he felt as though the universe conspired to prolong his torment, pushing him deeper into the quiet despair of a sluggish week.

Fortunately, a loyal customer with a zoo of pets had walked in, bringing a familiar sense of comfort to the store. Sebastian felt a wave of relief wash over him as she leisurely browsed the aisles, carefully selecting the supplies she needed. During busier times, her visits could turn chaotic, but tonight she was a breath of fresh air, the kind of patron who made the quiet moments enjoyable.

As he bagged her items, he failed to notice the bell above the door chiming its usual greeting. She animatedly launched into a discussion about her new foster cat, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm as she shared her plans for managing yet another feline alongside the six she already cared for at home. Sebastian chuckled, shaking his head in amusement before wishing her a pleasant evening. However, his smile faltered abruptly as he turned to face the person standing before him, a sudden sense of unease creeping into the air.

He stands frozen, unsure of how to react. He can only feel his heart beginning to race, the throbbing echo in his chest intensifying his growing confusion. How did she find him? ...What did she think? Sebastian hadn’t realized just how deeply he had missed her until this very moment, yet the weight of his hurt still clung to him like a heavy shroud. As she speaks, he breaks his gaze, offering her a weary look that betrays his inner unrest.

Her words cut through the air when she mentions that this isn’t what she had anticipated when she came to find him. A sharp pain flickers in his chest as his brows knit together and his jaw tightens in response. Ouch. With a resigned sigh, he turns his gaze away, feeling the tension of the moment envelop him. But when she asks if he has been avoiding her, he can't help but meet her eyes again. The silence between them speaks volumes; his eyes reveal the truth he’s reluctant to voice, but the words remain trapped in his throat, a struggle against the silence he has maintained for too long.

Yes.

Yes, I have been avoiding you.

But then she changes her mind, and Sebastian can't conceal the look that flickers across his face when she mentions wanting a pet fish. Was she serious? A fish? He gazes downward, shaking his head in disbelief as he struggles to maintain his composure. With a resigned sigh, he grabs a handful of misplaced items that need to be returned to their rightful shelves, the clatter of plastic and metal echoing in the quiet store. “No, you’ll kill it,” he says, shooting her a sideways glance before turning to navigate toward the cat aisle.

[cassiagallo]

"I don't think she'd put a bounty on my head, she'd come for me in the middle of the night herself." Which reminded her why she'd initially hesitated when she'd been first asked to care for the home while her friend went on a backpacking trip in europe for a few months.

There were so many other questions she wanted to ask in regards to this safe house and her ability to just unlock a door with whatever objects she had tucked away on her. But she decided that it was probably best to keep those questions at bay for the time being— maybe until they were both loosened up with alcohol.

Peering down at her drink, she took a sip and then placed it on the counter when it dawned on her that she could have welcomed someone from the mob into her friend's home. There wasn't a reason for her to hurt her but she'd willingly told her that she had a safe house and knew how to break into a house, and of course, Cassia hadn't thought twice about inviting her in like an idiot.

It could have been a case of overthinking like the time she'd heard some cracking in her first apartment and convinced herself someone was living in her attic for a good month.

Then she continued speaking and Cassia conveninently placed herself across the island from her as she smoothed her hands on the surface while she tried to think of what she could do if shit hit the walls. "Like, if someone was putting an hit on me. Would they maybe send someone like you to come and do the job? You know, cause I haven't done anything so I shouldn't be worried about that but I'm just talking out loud to talk... and also like, out of curiosity."

She hadn't touched her glass since it was served, swallowing hard while she tried to play it cool but she was certain that she was trembling like a leaf at this point. Luckily, she knew the house and could use the amazon forest in the house to her benefit. Her gaze scanned the room until they fell on the stack of knives before it flicked back to her.

At the cheers, Cassia held onto her glass and approached slightly, flashing her a smile. "Cheers to all of that."

She took a casual drink and then set it down before her gaze flicked around. "It's been something. I just want to make it out alive until my friend comes back because doing this is such a nice thing and you know, these plants would die without me."

Was she pleading for her life? Maybe.

"The lock," she said with a nod and flashed her a smile. Now she was almost wondering if she'd overreacted because what kind of killer was leading her outside and potentially allowing her to escape. "Let's do that first."

Sonny lets out a soft laugh, the sound low and rough-edged like it doesn’t get much airtime these days. She leans her hip against the counter, one hand already curling around a bottle of vodka as she listens, the other grabbing two mismatched glasses like it’s second nature.

“Well,” she says, pouring without asking how much, because the answer is always more, “if anyone’s putting a bounty on your head, it won’t be because of me. Unless you actually do kill those plants���then I make no promises.”

She hands over a glass with a little smirk, but there’s warmth in her tone now. Teasing, sure, but not sharp. “Besides, I think we passed the Are you a criminal? checkpoint somewhere between breaking into a demon house and me offering to teach you how to pick a lock.”

She takes a sip, eyes flicking over Cassia again with that vaguely amused, always-scrutinizing look—like she’s trying to fit the girl into a box and keeps realizing she doesn’t quite fit in any of the usual ones.

“And for the record,” she adds, nodding toward her, “you are pretty. But trust me, the people who come knocking when shit hits the fan? They don’t care how good your eyeliner looks. So yeah, safe houses come in handy when you’ve got people with guns, grudges, or worse trailing your shadow. Been there, done that. Still got the limp.”

She taps a knuckle against her own knee at that, a throwaway gesture that hints at some story she has no intention of telling—at least not yet.

“But hey,” she adds, lifting her glass toward Cassia’s, “to bartenders, and plants that don’t die. And to vodka, the great equalizer. May it blur your memory just enough to forget how many leaves you’ve accidentally killed this week.”

She clinks their glasses lightly, then drinks, letting the silence hang just long enough to feel companionable.

“…and for what it’s worth,” Sonny adds after a beat, quieter now, “if this place really is cursed? You’ve already lasted longer than most. That must count for something.”

She sets the glass down, then grins again, sharp and familiar. “Now come on, killer. Let’s see if I can teach you to break into your own damn house before you start drinking too much to remember it. Or if you'd prefer, I can give you a quick tour and lesson on the houseplants. At least half of them, I've heard could be used for spells.”

[cassiagallo]

"Home alone is a lot more interesting though. There's creativity and you can learn from your mistakes which means there's more pride." Cassia said, working tenfold to make sure that her own method was valid even if this wasn't actual a real situation in her life. "At least you have a purse. I should keep a baggy of survival items out here— work smart, not harder, you know."

Prepare for the worst. She should have done it on day one after she'd been warned about the dreaded door from the owner.

"Super Scary. Especially since I feel like there's bound to be a solution that chat gpt can find in ten seconds." She grimaced thinking about the dreaded app that was growing more popular by the week despite being completely terrifying because no one understood the consequences of it.

Just as she prepared to open her mouth about the second plan they had, she stopped at the sound of the click. "Stop!" She gave her a playful nudge to try to door and when it opened, she jumped up as if they'd both won the lottery or a free trip out of the country.

"Oh my god! Like what did you even do? Could you do it again? Fuck, I didn't even watch when you did the damn thing." She rushed to the door when it was starting to close again, jamming her foot in it.

"You're forever my contact instead of a locksmith. I'm actually changing your name in my phone right now!"

"That's so hot, Viv. Wow, I'm actually in awe."

Vivienne huffed a quiet laugh, crouched low by the lock, her brows knit in determined concentration as she jiggled the pin she’d bent out of a keychain, while trying to wedge the yogurt shop rewards card in between the lock and the door frame, as she thought she recalled seeing before. “G.I. Jane was working with military-grade know-how. I’m more... Home Alone energy. Improvising with whatever I find in my purse.”

She tilted her head, giving Cassia a quick, amused glance. “You’re not blocking the light, don’t worry. Honestly, I think the lock is just mocking me at this point.”

The soft metallic click of nothing happening made her sigh, and she shifted to try another angle. “But yeah, the fact that this kind of thing can be looked up in thirty seconds is mildly terrifying. You’d think we’d have evolved past the ‘credit card trick’ by now.”

At Cassia’s cheerleading, Vivienne snorted, flashing her a grateful smile. “Appreciate the vote of confidence. If this works, I owe you a latte. If not…” She trailed off, glancing toward the house like it had personally offended her.

She smirked again. “Plan B better involve grappling hooks, because if we’re climbing, I’m gonna need a helmet and someone with decent upper body strength. Or a trampoline.”

Then, after a beat — click. The lock gave a soft snick, and Vivienne blinked in surprise. “Wait. Wait, did I just—?”

She pushed the door gently open, the satisfying creak of victory echoing.

“Cassia,” she said, way too excited, “I’m never paying for locksmith services again.”

[cassiagallo]

The plan was formed while she received silent treatment from Sebastian. After day three, she'd chosen to stop looking at her phone, then day four was a vow to not search the crowd, and by day six, she was happy to have anyone pay attention to her. Holly's hot cousin may as well be a steak served to her on a silver platter whilst she was feeling depleted and starved.

She'd dressed in her skin-tight dress that still remained relatively classy in case she sent out the wrong idea to both patrons and this blind date of hers alike. The curls in her hair had fallen slightly due to hours of running around taking orders from people. She was here, she may as well help out while she waited. It would help settle her nerves.

Cassia turned to Holly when she heard her name, walking towards her as she searched for the cousin. No one struck her with an immediate family resemblance so she picked the nearest person and extended her hand. "I'm Cassia," she smiled to the individual who stood beside Benny, only realizing a second later that he was the one who she'd been paired with during easter, and then another beat to figure out that this was in fact the cousin. "Wait, Ben— oh?!" Her gaze searched his and then Holly's faces in confusion. "I know him. Did you tell her?" She flicked her gaze to Benny, wondering if he'd been aware that she was the one he'd go on a date with.

WHERE: The Rusty Spur... late evening!

@hollyparkcr & @cassiagallo

Cousin time. Benny realized it had been a while since he and Holly had spent time alone together. Although they frequently crossed paths at the ranch or during family gatherings, they rarely hung out just the two of them. Benny usually found himself smoking with one or two of the Parkers around a fire or focusing on whatever was happening at the grill during family parties. He struggled to remember the last time they had a meaningful conversation and eventually recalled that it was on New Year’s Eve.

He felt a slight churn in his stomach, knowing she would likely ask about the details following his message saying he didn't want to discuss whether things with Leyla had worked out. Fortunately, it was becoming easier to talk about it since he had just shared some details with Leyla's sister, which Benny now wondered was the best choice.

Nonetheless, he pushed those thoughts aside as he searched for his smaller, red-headed cousin among the busy crowd at The Rusty Spur. Despite the late hour, the place was packed, and Benny began to wonder if Holly simply wanted company while she finished closing a few tables, despite telling him she'd be off by now. Spotting her, he nodded when their eyes met and walked up to the bar, resting his hands on the counter. “Are you sure you can get off? It’s crazy busy,” he said, gesturing at the crowd.

[cassiagallo]

"The lavender would be the culprit. It became all the craze but I found there's only a few places that can make it taste good. There was a lavender scone that I tried a few months back and you could tell that it was artificially made from a bottle." The times she'd tried it, when it was good, made her crave it to no end which was why she was risking purchasing some overly priced matcha. Not enough to buy it on her own but to share felt like it was safe and less of a waste.

"A text message that made you smile, from who?" Cassia playfully nudged her friends side because the smile on her face made it seem like it was from some romantic interest. "Things haven't been as great for me. My ex-fiance is in town. We fucked, a lot, and he's ignoring me now." Rightfully so, but a week was getting excessive.

She shook her head, briefly pausing to smile at the barista when she dropped the coffee off between them. "I'll never be a morning person. I just haven't gone to bed yet."

Her hand reached for the dreaded green drink, handing it over to Elena first to try. "I ended up going to a diner with a few friends and I'm considering using this deluded state to just mess shit up more and go see my ex-fiance."

Elena followed her to the end of the counter, her hip lightly bumping Cassia’s as they settled into place. She leaned back against the wall, arms crossed casually over her chest, the edge of a smirk tugging at her mouth.

“I do what I can to keep my oat milk curiosity in check,” she said, nodding toward the barista behind the counter. “But if this matcha thing ends up tasting like liquid regret, I’m absolutely blaming the lavender trend.”

She turned her head slightly at Cassia’s question, her expression softening. “Things are… good, actually.” A small pause. “No fire to put out this morning, for once. Slept more than five hours, my bike started on the first try, and I got a text that made me smile before I even had coffee—so yeah. Kind of a miracle.”

Elena glanced sideways at her with a wry grin. “And you? Did the muffins bribe you into being functional this early or should I be worried you’re actually becoming a morning person?”

[cassiagallo]

Cassia couldn't help but raise her brow at the mention of them being twins. The hope was that she was a bartender and Cassia could find herself at her bar whenever she wasn't working and maybe get a bit of an heavier pour. Unfortunately, it wasn't what Reina was referring to. "Oh— is this your first time here, like since forever?" The sentence didn't make much sense but she figured she'd read between the lines. "I used to live here but I left for school." Then she'd almost gotten married but was back because her life had gone to shambles. "What brought you here?"

"I didn't even know there was that section." Cassia leaned in and read the little menu before she pointed to one that seemed interesting to her. "I think I'm going to try this one. Is there a side that you like?" She wanted to get the full experience and felt that trying one thing off the menu would be a waste.

"Oh, I love that place," and then it dawned on her that she hadn't been inside of the place since she had just gotten to Briar Ridge—she needed to get herself back out of the house more. "Look at us, being twins in a way," she started, before waving her hand. "I'm not a bartender or anything, God I would have all of the bars losing money if I was," she shook her head, thinking she would just end up over pouring at some point and they'd catch on. "But I'm newer, little less than a year I've been here." She laughed at the next comment. "Oh, I'm definitely coming soon then and asking for you specifically."

"Oh, understood a hundred percent. There are a ton of options here," she pointed a few of her favorites out on the menu, going over each one as she did so. "Honestly, those are all my favorites but if you look here," she flipped the menu so that she could point out another piece off to the side. "There's this little list here too that shows the local favorites and you can pick from there too!"

[cassiagallo]

for @sebolivar at the happy tails.

Cassiá wasn't proud of the lengths she'd gone in order to hunt down the location where Sebastian worked. Perhaps it was crossing a line to enter his workspace without being invited, but she didn't care while focused on the goal of tracking him down in order to wash away the feeling of abandonment she felt once she realized he wouldn't be the one to come find her. Her gaze moved across the store when she entered, immediately grimacing at the ringing that notified the masses of a new customer in the store. Luckily for her, he seemed occupied with another customer and she could easily wander around, peering at him from afar until he was free.

Gen's words momentarily surfaced at the back of her mind, reminding her that he deserved some level of truth about why she'd left, but they were quickly brushed aside in order to satiate her own needs instead. "Fancy seeing you here," the brunette said aloud as she walked to the counter where he stood. "This wasn't what I expected to find when I came to your work." He'd been studying to become a vet when they were together but this was a far cry from that. "Have you been avoiding me?" Cut right to the chase and hopefully catch him off guard enough that whatever expression flashed across his features would give her some clue as to whether or not she was right. Before he could even answer, she chickened out. Maybe she didn't want to know if he had and if he'd been fine with the long time apart— because she hadn't. "Actually, I need help. I'm thinking of getting a fish."

[cassiagallo]

"I just figured that you'd have some clueless new cop or agent to do your work for you. A bit of cleavage and you can basically get any of those guys to do anything." Maybe that was easier said than done but the woman was gorgeous so she wouldn't blame her if she used her charms to have someone else do the paperwork.

She sighed when she entered the home, slamming the door behind her in the hopes it would somehow hurt the home for being the bane of her existence ever since she agreed to look over it and the dreaded forestry within.

"You made it look so quick and easy. Chances are I'm going to lock myself out again so it'll be useful to know."

Maybe she'd learn better while being a little intoxicated. "So, why do you need a safe house like that? Are you into some kind of crime? Am I going to be targeted just because you're trying to do a nice thing for me? Don't get me wrong, it would be a bit of excitement in my boring life but I'm too pretty to have a bounty on my head."

The mention of a trade should have made her think twice given the fact that the woman had access to a safe house to hide out from god knows who. "Fair, babe. I've got you. Not that I've got many skills to trade but I'm a bartender so free drinks, maybe?"

Her gaze flicked over to the plant, unsure if she was even looking at the right one, but she'd remember the name and go over the list that was provided to her. "It'll be a miracle if they stay alive by the end of all of this. I'm wondering how much debt I'll go into replacing them. They're expensive, right?" This was what she got for being too friendly. Why couldn't she be babysitting a goldfish or a cat?

"No, let's go with drinking now that I'm frazzled about this whole plant murderer I've become. I'm also very simple and favor vodka. It's the college girl in me."

Sonny blinks at the other woman, one eyebrow quirking like it’s clocked in for overtime. The mention of spy and FBI work earns Cassia a long, amused stare—less in offense, more like she’s debating how much of her actual life she should be sharing.

“Jesus,” she mutters with a laugh, dry as dust, “do I look like I have the patience for federal paperwork? Pssh, god no. Never.”

Sonny steps inside after Cassia, her boot heels soft against the hardwood as she gives the space a quick once-over. Plants. Everywhere. It’s like someone crossbred a jungle with a Pinterest board. Sonny lets out a low whistle under her breath and then glances back over her shoulder.

“Safe house as in... the place you go when things get messy. The kind with blackout curtains and no forwarding address. You don't ask who owns it and you rarely touch anything in the fridge because there's no telling how long it's been there.” She shrugs off her jacket as she talks, the movement easy, like she’s already made peace with this unexpected detour of her day.

“But yeah,” she adds after a beat, smirking again, “I can teach you. Not exactly a Girl Scout badge skill, but it’s handy. You’ll just owe me one—call it a barter system. I break you into cursed buildings, you give me first pick of the booze.”

She steps into the kitchen like she owns the place, then stops and turns to face her new friend?, arms folding again in that signature posture of hers—part guarded, part comfortable, like she’s been running on instinct long enough to make it look casual.

“By the way,” she says, nodding toward the rows of plants now, “you’re doing it all wrong. That one’s a prayer plant. It hates being misted. Gets all dramatic about it.” A pause. “Kinda like me.”

She flashes the girl another crooked grin before heading to the bar and picking up a bottle with an expression of approval. “Alright, demon house babysitter, what’s your poison? Or are we sticking with silence and moral support? I could go either way. But, I just figure the poison might be a lot more fun.”

[cassiagallo]

Cassia nodded her head as she spoke, finger pointed at her when her words sparked a memory. "I think I know who you're talking about. I've seen her and I was pretty shocked when she told me that she was someone who could just pop a lock open. She's like G.I. Jane."

Frankly she hadn't paid that much attention so she didn't know how it was done but she found herself crouching down beside Vivienne to see what she was doing. "Am I taking your light by being here because I'll move."

Maybe she could just google it and teach herself. "I'm wondering if maybe there's a trick but I'm also worried if it's that easy because you can't really feel safe if people can just easily learn how to break into your house from a quick google search."

"No, you're gonna get it! I believe in you." Cassia was just hoping she would because the plan B wasn't one she was confident in. "Scale the damn house and hope one of the top windows aren't locked?"

Vivienne crouched beside the front steps, squinting at the stubborn lock with the mild disdain of someone who’d been here before. Then, she tapped her fingers against her knees. “I locked myself out of the flower shop where I worked, and I didn’t have my phone or a key...”

Then came the reveal, her brows lifting slightly. “And just when I was fully spiraling? A private investigator walks by. Like... actually. A real one. She was cool, gorgeous.”

She nodded at the lock. “She taught me the trick. It’s not too hard, I don't think,” she muttered as she began hunting through her purse for a card of some type... and came out with a rewards card to a frozen yogurt shop. It would do.

She wiggled the card in between the lock and the door frame itself, then turned to Cassia. “But I'm not like super confident in my abilities, so just lower your expectations.” Vivienne grinned, a glint of amusement in her eyes. “Also, do we have a Plan B?”

[cassiagallo]

Cassia figured that she would end up trying it one day because it intrigued her but she knew it was the hot new thing and up-priced because of it which made her want to drag her feet on the whole craze. "I heard that a lot of people do oat milk and sweeten it. I've heard someone mention a lavender milk and I've been trying my hardest to find it somewhere." Her brow perked when the offer to share was on the table. "Deal. If I hate it, then you can have it all." A fair trade and she wouldn't feel horrible discarding the drink if she couldn't stomach it.

She walked up to the barista and ordered for the both of them. After she paid, she walked with Elena towards the end of the counter so they could wait for their order. "How are things with you? You look like you're in a good mood. Any particular reason?" Cassia wasn't much of a morning person so she always found it absurd when people were just generally happy no matter the ungodly hour.

Elena smiled softly, her eyes lighting up with that familiar warmth she reserved for small moments like this. “I get that,” she said, tilting her head thoughtfully as she watched Cass decide. “Matcha is definitely one of those things that’s either love it or leave it.” She shrugged, the edge of a teasing smile tugging at her lips. “But honestly? I think it’s kind of like people with coffee—some swear by it, some can’t stand it, and others only like it when it’s sweetened just right.”

She glanced at the muffins again, then back up. “If you want, I’ll split one with you. That way, you won’t feel like you wasted money if it’s ‘dirt’ tasting.” Her tone was light but genuine, and her eyes held that steady calm Elena was known for—always ready to share something simple, something honest. “Besides, I’d be curious to see what you think.”

[cassiagallo]

It was easy to imagine how quick the word would get around about them and just how fuller the bar would be whenever they worked together next. All the college boys and girls would come in just to catch a glimpse— and that fact alone amused her. People were so gullible in this town and they'd eat any rumour up in the hopes it created some kind of entertainment for them. "We could ride the rumour and get some tips from the idiots thirsting over us and then, imagine the fun we would have doing a grandiose break up scene in front of people. It would be a legendary story."

A plan b was always something Cassia had, and hadn't shaken, even though her entire world felt upside down and she'd gotten more impulsive than she'd ever been. "This is like your home and I'm sure that your brother would welcome you back with open arms." She wanted to ask if there was an option for her to work at her farm but didn't know what her home life was like so she withheld. She couldn't imagine that Holly hadn't considered that. "I would still be here, no matter how depressing that is for me— but of course I would be. I love it here." But she also wasn't desperate enough to use that plan b of hers right now.

"Well, I kind of always wanted to have the white picket fence life. My parents were happily married for many years and I just wanted that more than anything. I was about to get married, going to school to become a counsellor— and then it all fell apart." It all crumbled in a singular moment, with a crash, and a loss so deep that she felt the fracture in her psyche.

Holly laughed in response to her friend's continued flirtation, giving an exaggerated toss of her hair like she was about to lean fully into the bit. “God, imagine the rumours. One kiss in front of a rowdy crowd and suddenly we’re the town’s hottest power couple. Might be worth it just to watch the regulars fall over themselves trying to catch a glimpse.” She grinned at Cassia, clearly amused by the idea, though there was a flicker of something softer in her eyes—something that hinted at how much she’d come to enjoy the other woman’s presence in her life.

Her smile dimmed slightly as Cassia spoke again, but it didn’t disappear. “You know, for a backup plan, that actually sounds kind of comforting,” the redhead admitted. “It’s not that I think I’m going to fail, but… I guess it’s nice knowing this place would still be here. That you would still be here.” She wasn’t sure she could have said that about many people in her life, especially with how much everything had changed over the last few years. The Rusty Spur had been a constant. And so had her little work family.

At the mention of dreams lost, Holly tilted her head, curiosity piqued. “You kind of lived it?” she echoed, voice gentle now. “Tell me more!” There was no push, no pressure, just genuine interest. She knew what it felt like to bury a dream for survival’s sake, to tuck it away and tell yourself it didn’t matter anymore. If Cassia wanted to share, Holly would be there to listen. If not, well… she’d be there anyway.

[cassiagallo]

Cassia didn't know that she was in the best position to give advice because her stance was to run as fast and hard from anything that frightened her lately. She understood how ignorant it would be for her to tell her otherwise when she wouldn't even take her own advice. "That's— I can't imagine how hard that was." Part of her wanted to ask if he'd taken it well but she could only imagine that it could have. It sounded like he'd just heard that there was a child out there he never knew about. "Do you think that he might want to find his child? Maybe it's a little less scary when you're both looking and can go through it together."

She understood the decision to live in ignorance and she couldn't blame her for finding a certain level of comfort in that. "I don't think there's a right or wrong answer here. There's a chance he might come find you and I guess it depends on what you want to tell him." Would she be able to live with herself and admit she'd never looked because she was afraid? Or would it be easier to say she tried, even if it meant she failed.

"He deserves something real." She believed that wholeheartedly but she had to decide if she could be that. And if not, if she could be the one to walk away first. It was the only option if she didn't want to be the one left heartbroken when he finally decided he was moving on. "I know, you're right. I don't want to hurt him, Gen. I'll do everything in my power not to hurt him and I will tell him the truth." At some point, she was just too selfish to do it today, or tomorrow, because she wanted to live in their little bubble for a little while longer. "I promise I'll do it. Soon."

“I haven’t,” she answered quietly. “Tried finding him, that is. I told his father recently—after all these years—and that nearly broke me. So no… I haven’t looked. Not because I don’t want to, but because I’m scared. I don’t know who he is now. I don’t know if he’s okay or if he’s angry, or if he even wants to be found. So I wake up and I live my life. I focus on Juliana. And some days, that feels like enough. Other days, I wonder what it says about me that I haven’t searched harder.” Her smile was soft but haunted. “There’s no roadmap for this kind of pain. You just do your best to survive it.”

She reached for Cassia’s hand then, their fingers curling together across the table like a tether. “He hasn't told me much. But you’re right. Sebastian’s not a man who will settle. He may go along with this for a while, but eventually, he’s going to need something solid. That’s not a threat or a warning. That’s just who he is. He wants something real. And that doesn’t mean you’re not enough. It just means the timing might still be wrong.”

Gen allowed her thumb to brush over the woman’s knuckles, her voice still soft as she spoke. “As much as it should anger me, I understand why you don't want to stop. I think you found the one person who made you feel seen, and now you’re trying to hold onto that in the only way you can. But Cassia… if there’s still a part of you that cares for him, you owe it to Sebastian—and to yourself—to be honest. Even if it’s messy. Even if it’s terrifying. Because choosing to stay in this grey area? That’s going to hurt you both more in the long run.”

[cassiagallo]

"I work at the rusty spur." Cassia said with a smile, feeling prideful at the fact that it had became bigger with the recent change in management. "I'm a bit newer— I've bartended at almost all of the bars in town and the neighbouring towns. I used to jump around a lot." Mainly she got bored and liked a change of scenery but the rusty spur was different for her. "You should come by when I work. I've been told I have an heavy pour."

She couldn't help but laugh happily when she was told that she'd picked the right person to help her with her choice. "I'm happy because I would have probably chosen wrong— the menu is a little overwhelming." At least for someone who was newer and hadn't ventured out of the spots near her house. "What are your favorite dishes to get here?"

Hearing that she was a bartender had Reina's ears perking up, curiosity running through her, so she felt she needed to ask. "A bartender? Where at?" Which was funny anyways seeing as Reina wouldn't have been able to figure it out on her own, like normal, since she had been held up in her home working in overdrive. A shame, really, she probably needed the break with her friend Tequila.

Her smile brightened at their common liking of spice, and from there she grabbed the menu herself and started pointing out what dishes the other would probably like. "Oh, you're going to love it here, honestly. And you probably chose the best person to stop you and help," she patted the table, again signaling for her to take a seat at the booth. "I can lead you in the right direction."

[cassiagallo]

who is your first kiss and would you kiss them again?

"Technically, a friend of mine named Cynthia when we were like seven years old while playing house. I was the dad and she was the mom and we had twin dolls and a dog in the form of a cursed furby. Given that she's married now and we were both kids, I'd rather not."

[cassiagallo]

Do you think your sister would be disappointed in you?

"Yes. I don't think she'd recognize who I became."

[cassiagallo]

If you could, would you rewind time? Or do you believe in not having any regrets?

"Of course, I'd rewind it without second thought but I know that's just a dream at this point and there's no use going over something I can't change. There's regrets— a lot of them but what can you do. I've got to find a way to live with them. Alcohol and mindless sex has been work so far."